PICTURES: Hopefully many of you will recognize my mother, decked out in her purple outfit. She is now 88 and has been a resident at her nursing home now for one year. Of course, adjustment had been difficult at first, but Katherine reports she is happy and doing well. Katherine is so good to go and see her every day and the staff says Katherine spoils her. Kim and John also support mother in many ways. They each take mother on outings. The second photo is of my sister Katherine and her husband Larry. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while we were in Azerbaijan. Being separated from family and missing significant events is at times difficult, but we hope to make up for it in the future. We look towards celebrating mother’s 90th on June 19, 2011.
Linda is working with 2 junior high teachers in Harrisonville in a pen-pal project. Linda has 11 participants, 6 boys, 5 girls. These two are handsome representatives. This week Linda has mailed their letters and pictures to the teachers in Harrisonville. Last year Linda worked with about a dozen college students in a pen-pal project with students in Archie, Missouri.
Everything is fine in Azerbaijan, and in fact sometimes I wonder about what to write because everything seems so normal and routine now. The marketing, water preparation, and repairs all seem quite boring. However, two weeks ago while we were in Baku for a dentist appointment, we had guests the night before and I had been text messaging them on my phone while we were on a bus. When we transferred busses I put the phone in the outside pocket of my jacket, something I rarely do. The bus was crowded, and you probably already guessed, my cell phone was stolen. It is a bit inconvenient while I wait to see if the police find the phone through the IMEI code. The Peace Corps can contact me through Linda’s phone, but Linda and I are limited in contacting each other.
I have begun a new program at the Library. I show 2 episodes of Monk using a projector focused on a white board each Saturday at 11:00. We add the English subtitles. The university students and graduates follow along, and have come to love the character of Monk. We all forget how fast Americans speak and our extensive use of slang.
This week Linda and I visited a private pre-school in Shirvan. The couple that run the pre-school had been active in local government and have now purchased the facilities of a once government run pre-school-kindergarten. The couple were a host family for an RPCV, Karen Wrightsman, and are quite familiar with Peace Corps.
Linda returned on Friday to observe and the following are her observations:
The kindergarten is privately operated. The public school system in Azerbaijan does not provide kindergarten; so parents must pay for private kindergarten services. The kindergarten I observed is housed in an old Soviet building that the owners have repaired. Kindergarten opens at 6:00 in the morning and closes at 6:00 at night. The children are served breakfast and lunch. The 4-5 year old class had 14 students that will all be going to first form (first grade) next year. Their teacher has a degree from college (college is a two year program in AZ). She had an assistant that does not have a degree. The children said poems, counted to 20, named pictures of domestic animals, and vegetables – all in English. Their pronouncing of English words could be improved, but they were close. Each room has a large room with child-size tables, a TV, teacher’s desk and a cabinet with supplies. Adjoining the room is a bathroom and a sleep room. The facilities were very clean and modern. Each child has a bed and takes an afternoon nap. Academics are done in the morning and also after naptime.
The other classroom I observed had 13 students, ages 5-6 who will be going to first form next year. They have the same schedule, room, supplies and curriculum as the previous room. These students also recited a few poems and could introduce themselves.
The school has a large room for assemblies and a kitchen for food prep.
There are rooms for children from 9 months to age 6 years.
A person for America that saw this kindergarten would think that the kindergarten programs in Azerbaijan are wonderful. However, only some larger towns have kindergartens and this one is one of the best in the area. The cost is 60 manat per month per child. The original cost per month was 20 manat. However, now because the facility is so much better, the cost has gone up to 60 manat per month. They added cost is put back into the kindergarten so that constantly improvements are being made. A teacher is usually paid 150 – 250 manat per month. So many teachers and other people would not be able to afford this wonderful kindergarten. All these children were very nicely dressed. I saw no child that appeared to have a handicap. Three-fourths of the students were boys. (Most Azerbaijanis still feel that education of males is most important). Clearly, kindergarten is available, but only to those families that can afford it or will strictly budget their resources for early education. These students do get a wonderful start in English education.
They requested DVDs so their children could hear spoken English. They have one (Children Little) that they have played until it is worn out.
We are happy to hear that the weather has moderated, and know you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Linda is working with 2 junior high teachers in Harrisonville in a pen-pal project. Linda has 11 participants, 6 boys, 5 girls. These two are handsome representatives. This week Linda has mailed their letters and pictures to the teachers in Harrisonville. Last year Linda worked with about a dozen college students in a pen-pal project with students in Archie, Missouri.
Everything is fine in Azerbaijan, and in fact sometimes I wonder about what to write because everything seems so normal and routine now. The marketing, water preparation, and repairs all seem quite boring. However, two weeks ago while we were in Baku for a dentist appointment, we had guests the night before and I had been text messaging them on my phone while we were on a bus. When we transferred busses I put the phone in the outside pocket of my jacket, something I rarely do. The bus was crowded, and you probably already guessed, my cell phone was stolen. It is a bit inconvenient while I wait to see if the police find the phone through the IMEI code. The Peace Corps can contact me through Linda’s phone, but Linda and I are limited in contacting each other.
I have begun a new program at the Library. I show 2 episodes of Monk using a projector focused on a white board each Saturday at 11:00. We add the English subtitles. The university students and graduates follow along, and have come to love the character of Monk. We all forget how fast Americans speak and our extensive use of slang.
This week Linda and I visited a private pre-school in Shirvan. The couple that run the pre-school had been active in local government and have now purchased the facilities of a once government run pre-school-kindergarten. The couple were a host family for an RPCV, Karen Wrightsman, and are quite familiar with Peace Corps.
Linda returned on Friday to observe and the following are her observations:
The kindergarten is privately operated. The public school system in Azerbaijan does not provide kindergarten; so parents must pay for private kindergarten services. The kindergarten I observed is housed in an old Soviet building that the owners have repaired. Kindergarten opens at 6:00 in the morning and closes at 6:00 at night. The children are served breakfast and lunch. The 4-5 year old class had 14 students that will all be going to first form (first grade) next year. Their teacher has a degree from college (college is a two year program in AZ). She had an assistant that does not have a degree. The children said poems, counted to 20, named pictures of domestic animals, and vegetables – all in English. Their pronouncing of English words could be improved, but they were close. Each room has a large room with child-size tables, a TV, teacher’s desk and a cabinet with supplies. Adjoining the room is a bathroom and a sleep room. The facilities were very clean and modern. Each child has a bed and takes an afternoon nap. Academics are done in the morning and also after naptime.
The other classroom I observed had 13 students, ages 5-6 who will be going to first form next year. They have the same schedule, room, supplies and curriculum as the previous room. These students also recited a few poems and could introduce themselves.
The school has a large room for assemblies and a kitchen for food prep.
There are rooms for children from 9 months to age 6 years.
A person for America that saw this kindergarten would think that the kindergarten programs in Azerbaijan are wonderful. However, only some larger towns have kindergartens and this one is one of the best in the area. The cost is 60 manat per month per child. The original cost per month was 20 manat. However, now because the facility is so much better, the cost has gone up to 60 manat per month. They added cost is put back into the kindergarten so that constantly improvements are being made. A teacher is usually paid 150 – 250 manat per month. So many teachers and other people would not be able to afford this wonderful kindergarten. All these children were very nicely dressed. I saw no child that appeared to have a handicap. Three-fourths of the students were boys. (Most Azerbaijanis still feel that education of males is most important). Clearly, kindergarten is available, but only to those families that can afford it or will strictly budget their resources for early education. These students do get a wonderful start in English education.
They requested DVDs so their children could hear spoken English. They have one (Children Little) that they have played until it is worn out.
We are happy to hear that the weather has moderated, and know you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
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